Trap for catching fleas.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1908.

G. T. GODFREY. TRAP FOR OATGHING FLEAS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

i WM Allorzzey WITNESSES.-

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GUY T. GODFREY, OF ELDON, MISSOURI.

TRAP FOR CATCHING FLEAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,834, dated January20, 1903.

Application filed August 14, 1902. Serial No. 119,676. (No modeLi To allwhom, it nutg concern.-

Be it known that I, GUY T. GODFREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eldon, in the county of Miller and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Traps for CatchingFleas; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinventiomsuch as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trapsfor catching fleas; and it has for its object, among others, theprovision of a simple, inexpensive, and serviceable trap of thischaracter which while adapted for catching and destroying insect pestsgenerally is especially adapted for use in destroying fleas.

I have found that the natural oil contained in sheeps wool isdestructive to the life of fleas, and this fact I have utilized in thecarrying out of my invention.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the peculiar construction of the trap, as will behereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and thenspecifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa flea-trap constructed in accordance with my invention, the trap beingshown as opened or set. Fig. 2 is a like view of the trap as it appearswhen the parts are folded together.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A Arepresent the two sections of the trap,which may consist of two trays,frames, or boards, preferably rectangnlar in form and of equal size.These frames are hinged together and are adapted to be folded one uponthe other. The hinged connections B and the hooks B which latter serveas a connecting means for holding the outer edges of the frames in theirrelative position when folded, are of such length as to prevent theframes from coming into contact when folded one upon the other, a space0 intervening between them fora purpose which will presently appear.

The upper faces of each of the sections or frames A are provided with acovering of sheepskin with the wool upward or exposed, and each of theframes or sections is provided with one or more spaces D, which areformed by removing the woo1,and each of these spaces D is provided witha pin E for the reception of bait.

When the trap is designed for use in catching fleas, the hinged sectionsof the trap are opened outward,as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and asmall piece of fresh meat, preferably liver, is placed upon thebait-receiving pegs E. The trap when thus set is placed upon the floor,a table, or other convenient place within the apartment which it isdesigned to rid of fleas. The insects being attracted by the bait arebrought into contact with the natural oil contained in the woolsurrounding the bait and are killed thereby. Fleas being nocturnal intheir'habits spend the day-time in darkened crevices, and it is mypurpose to fold the trap as shown in Fig. 2 and leave the same in thiscondition during daylight. The space 0 will thus afford a convenientspace within which the insects in seeking refuge from the light willenter the trap.

While my trap is especially designed and intended for use in catchingfleas, it is at once evident that the same may be used for destroyinginsect pests of all kinds, it being simply necessary to substitute forthe bait which I have described as adapted for use in catching fleassuch other bait as may be adapted for use in attracting other kinds ofinsects. It is also at once evident that the wool surfaces of thetrap-sections may be supplied with poisonous materials or substanceswhich will serve to destroy insect life.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A trap for catching fleas, the same consisting of a board or frame,having stretched thereon a covering of sheepskin with the wool exposed,and having an open space provided ICO with a pin or peg for thereception of bait, substantially as described.

2. A trap of the character described, the same comprising two hingedsections, each section being provided with a covering of sheepskin andeach provided with a space from which the wool is removed and a pin orpeg within said space for the reception of bait, substantially asdescribed.

3. A trap for catching fleas and other insects, the same comprising twohinged sections,each having its upper face provided with sheepskinsurface and each provided with a space and peg or pin for the receptionof bait,

as described, the hinged connections between sections, being of such acharacter as to allow a contracted open space to intervene between thewool surfaces upon the meeting faces of the trap-sections, when the sameare GUY T.' GODFREY.

Witnesses:

W. P. BERRY, EMMET E. HART.

